Robert Woods returns to Bills practice; Watkins out Wednesday; Shaq Lawson to start?

Receiver Robert Woods returned to Bills practice Wednesday for the first time since spraining a knee ligament in the Nov. 20 win against the Bengals.

Top receiver Sammy Watkins (foot) had the day off, but Rex Ryan relayed that Watkins was less sore after playing 49 snaps (68%) against the Raiders Sunday than after playing 25 snaps against the Jaguars.

Other players who missed practice Wednesday were linebacker Lerentee McCray (concussion) and left tackle Cordy Glenn (back). Ryan said outside linebacker Lorenzo Alexander would have a veteran rest day, but he was on the practice field.

Perhaps that could be because he's losing his starting job. Per the team's official website, Ryan said on "The Rex Ryan Show" that rookie Shaq Lawson will start this week. It's not immediately clear when that was since the show airs on Saturdays and Sundays.

Woods said last week that he planned to return this season. He was wearing a brace on the left knee Wednesday but didn't appear to be going through drills at full speed during the portion of practice that was open to media.

Cornerback Ronald Darby also returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a concussion against the Jaguars.

Nick Veronica– Nick Veronica joined The News in 2013 and began covering the Bills in 2016. He is a Buffalo native and a graduate of Canisius College. You can follow him on Twitter @NickVeronica and on Facebook at fb.com/ByNickVeronica.